Chiropractic Care/Manual Therapy

Dr. Kanz is residency and fellowship trained in manual medicine. In addition to traditional chiropractic methods & techniques, he provides a number of unique soft tissue and muscle energy applications. Our specialty trained staff is also well qualified to provide therapies important to full recovery from injury or illness.

Chiropractic is an alternative type of medicine that utilizes non-invasive procedures and drugless form of treatment. Doctors of chiropractic care are trained to enhance the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Chiropractors in treating various physical and physiological deformities, disorders, and diseases may use many technological advances in addition to manual therapy. The skillful hands of a qualified chiropractor can make chiropractic treatments efficient, safe & very effective. Through many clinical studies and published research, chiropractic approaches have been proven effective to relieve pain as well as to prevent the recurrence degenerative illness and injury.

Chiropractors must first determine a proper diagnosis before a chiropractic program is established. Diagnosis can be obtained through laboratory tests, physical examination, and medical history of the patient. Laboratory tests may include MRI/CT and/or X-Ray. These procedures may determine the presence of other pathology as well as the place of misalignment and the extent of the deformity. Palpation, inspection, percussion, and auscultation are used to do a thorough physical assessment. The medical history of the patient is necessary to obtain because it may determine the cause of the deformity, misalignment, or the presence of other more severe problems.

Once a diagnosis is confirmed, a chiropractic program is formulated. A chiropractic treatment plan for a particular patient may be different from other patients. The needs of the patient must be met for the chiropractic program to be successful. This is why a proper diagnosis is important to establish the correct chiropractic treatment program.
Chiropractors use manual therapy and other physical medicine modalities to manage and treat various neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions and disorders. Spinal adjustment or spinal manipulation is the term used in chiropractic to adjust the spinal column and reestablish its normal function and proper anatomical structure.

Chiropractors are highly skilled and well trained to practice manual procedures and other health related technologies safely and effectively. Studies have shown that a great percentage of patients receiving spinal manipulation and manual therapy in addition to rehabilitation and self-care instruction, have recovered more quickly from pain and the recurrence of chronic pain disorders.

Another manual therapy used in chiropractic care is massage. Massage and Myofascial therapy is very useful to relax the muscles, inhibit muscle spasm, and improve blood circulation, especially in injured body parts. Muscles and connective tissue must be relaxed in order to prevent spasm and stiffness. Normal blood circulation is also necessary because blood carries oxygen and important nutrients to provide the body with energy. Massage, and other muscle energy therapies are also considered helpful in disentangling twisted or knotted muscle fiber that causes pain. Continuous muscle contraction may cause weakness and deterioration in muscle strength, function and may contribute to chronic degenerative diseases.

The chiropractic art & science believes that the body has the power to heal its own dysfunction, disease, deformity, and ailment. However, each system in the body must be in perfect condition to perform their respective roles, actions and functions. Chiropractors may use many conservative treatments in addition to manual therapy, because it produces non-complicated healing and fewer side effects, unlike pharmaceutical drugs and surgery. Side effects of chiropractic may include tenderness on the treated body part, fatigue, and mild pain, which usually resolve within 24 hours after each therapy. The purpose of chiropractic care is to promote health, restore normal body function and help prevent injury or chronic illness, and support physical wellness of an individual.